[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM DAILY MYTHBUSTER: IMPACT ON SENIORS

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address seniors in this country 
about many myths that have been perpetrated about current health care 
reform.
  The fact is that health care reform in this House, which we've talked 
about, simply provides Medicare reimbursement to doctors who spend time 
with their patients who wish to speak to their doctors about their 
values and their preferences with regard to end-of-life-care decisions. 
It empowers older Americans who want to have their wishes observed.
  The other myth we've heard about is rationed care. The fact is 
nothing will stand between you and your doctor or will prevent you from 
making the best health care decisions, and if you're enrolled in 
Medicare, it will improve the level of care you can get.
  With regard to a so-called ``government takeover'' of health care, 
this bill would build on the system of private health care in this 
country. The CBO said it will actually expand coverage under private 
care by 16 million and that only about 3 percent of Americans would 
choose to enroll in a new public health care plan.
  Also, with regard to Medicare, we are going to have savings from 
overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans of $150 billion, which will 
help improve the stability of Medicare.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to pass this now and get on with the serious 
business of health care reform for our seniors.

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